Biocat

Biocat is the organization that coordinates, dynamizes and promotes biotechnology, biomedicine and medical technology sector in Catalonia. It is fostered by the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council and, since it was created in 2006, has included companies and organizations from this sector in its governing bodies.

Biocat works to achieve the following goals:

Facilitate relationships and synergies among members of the BioRegion of Catalonia.
Drive the sector to make it an economic engine in this country.
Promote the sector on an international level.
Improve the public’s knowledge and perception of biotechnology.

What has changed since Biocat was founded?

Strategic plans for biotechnology, biomedicine and medical technology have been developed in Catalonia.
Participants can meet and network through tools like the Biocat Directory.
Professionals stay up to date on the latest news in the sector.
The needs of the sector, like training and funding, are heard and addressed.
The BioRegion Forum is held each year to help consolidate and demonstrate the sector’s potential in Catalonia.
The number of Catalan companies and organizations that participate in the top international biotechnology showcase, the United States the BIO convention, as part of the BioRegion of Catalonia pavilion, has increased ten-fold.
International events have been held in Barcelona including: Euro-Biotech Forum 2009, the 14th European Congress on Biotechnology Symbiosis and BIO-Europe Spring 2010.
Catalonia is the headquarters of the National Genome Analysis Center (CNAG).
The Biopol consortium in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat has been created.
The BioRegion of Catalonia has become a cluster development model for the rest of the bioregions in Spain and Europe.
Social and political actions are taken to improve public awareness and prestige of biotechnology, especially in controversial areas.
Catalonia is a candidate to lead the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (IET) Life Sciences Community.